Flashlight



June 29, 1948 M. E. MONTGOMERY 2,444,107

FLASHLIGHT Filed Dec. 17, 1946 s Sheets-sheaf 1 Fig. I.

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ll: a I, z 2 Imfentar Q Marvin E. Montgomery v v \KQ June 29, 1948,- M. E. MONTGOMERY 2,444,107

' FLASHLIGHT Filed. Dec. 17,1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 5 56 Inventor Marvin EMonfgomery WWW 8 M58]:

June 29, 1948. M. E. MONTGOMERY FLASHLIGHI Filed Dec. 17, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet'3 Fig; 7.

Marvin E. Montgomery Inventor Patented June 29, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT Marvin E. Montgomery, Canton, Kans.

Application December 17, 1946, Serial No. 716,870

This invention relates to a flashlight and has for its primary object to produce a powerful light beam. a 4 2 1 .Another object is to facilitate the handlingv of the flashlight and the rapid lighting or extinguishing of the lamp thereof. i

A further object is to facilitate the adjustment of the lamp bulb with relation .to'. the. reflector in order to produce a beam of maximum intensity.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a plurality of spaced parallel tubes arranged symmetrically about alongitudinal axis, a base joining and closing said tubes at one end of the group, a head joining the tubes at the opposite end of the group, a hood detachably mounted on the head, a window in said hood in alignment with the axis about which the tubes are grouped, an incandescent electric lamp mounted in the head for adjustment along the longitudinal axis thereof, and power supply 4 means Within the tubes for supplying electrical energy to the lamp.

Other features include a switch carried by the head in axial alignment with the lamp selectively to energize and deenergize the lamp.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a flashlight embodying the features of this invention,

a Figure 2 is an end View of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged end View showing the hood removed,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 3, a

Figure 6 is a detailed plan view of the contact plate, a t

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section, taken substantially along the line of Figure 4,

. Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the control switch and lamp mounta length sufiicient to accommodate several such l 40mins. (01. 240-101;)

cells in axial alignment as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings.

Secured to one end of the group of tubes [5 is a base plate I! having on one face a group of sockets l8 in which the tubes are sealed to form t a gas-tight junction. Attached to the opposite ends of the tubes i5 is a head l9 which is pierced at spaced intervals as at 20 to receive the ends of the tubes, and surrounding the openings 25 are sealing collars 2! in which the tubes are fixed to form a gas-tight junction. As illustrated in Figure 5, the ends of the tubes which enter the openings 20 are wholly open so that the endmost contacts of the cells It in the tubes will be accessible through the head. Carried by the head and projecting from the face thereof opposite the face from which the tubes I5 project are headed studs 22 which as illustrated in Figure 4 are symmetrically. disposed about the axis above which the tubes l5. are symmetrically disposed and the purpose of these studs will be more fully hereinafter explained. Formed in the head i9 near its outer edge and between each tube are openings 23 for the reception of the threaded studs carried by the hood to be more fully hereinafter described. A cylindricalcasing 24 surrounds a central opening 25 formed in the head [9 in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis about which the tubes [5 are symmetrically disposed, and this casing is provided at the end opposite the opening 25 with an end wall 26 (Fig. 8) having an axial opening 21 the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafterexplained.

Fitted in the opening 25 is a flanged bushing 28 of insulating material in which ismo lded or otherwise fixedly mounted an internally screwthreaded bushing 29 in which a lamp socket 39 is mounted for longitudinal adjustment as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 8. A suitable flexible conductor 3| is soldered or otherwise connected to the socket 30, and screwed into the socket 30 is the base 32 of an incandescent electric lamp 33. The end of the socket 30 opposite that into which the base 32 of the lamp 33 enters is closed by a disc 34 of non-conductive material to which is fixed in any suitable manner These tubes side of the disc 35 opposite that contacting the disc-34. As illustrated, the ends of the legs 38 terminate short of the periphery of the disc 35 so as to avoid electrical contact with the casing 24. Formed adjacent the outer end of each leg 38 in the exposed face of the spider 31 is a recess 39 and similar recesses 40 are formed in the disc 35 midway between the legs 38.

Rotatably mounted in the opening 27 in the end wall 26 of the housing 24 is a shaft 4| carrying atf itsiinner-end a disc i 42- to which is riveted or otherwise attached a substantially V- shaped spring contact arm 43 the free end of which is adapted to bear against the exposed face of the disc 35 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 8. A lug projects from the spring contact arm 43 for engagement in the recesses 39 or 40 dependingnpon whether or not the lamp bulb 33 is to be illuminated. Fixed to the end of the shaft ll opposite that carrying the disc 42 is a thumb-wheel 44 by which the "shaft 4| may-be rotated. It will" thus be seen that the spring c'ontact arm 43 may be moved 'into or outof contact with anyone of the arms -38 nierelyby rotating the 'thumb-wheel' l i in either direction.

Fixed to the basel'l at the extreme inner end of one of the tubes 15 is a contact sp-ring 35 5 (Fig. and fitted in each -'of the other tubes is I a cup A6 ofinsulating-material each of which is provided with a contact- 'spring 47. i The contact springs" "41 "have attached thereto flexiblev insu- A "contact plate designated generally 49 is provided and'comprises in the preferred-form of 7 the inventionasubstantially triangular metal 9 late-5t formed atspaced intervals-with keynqwslots '5! which are adapted tdre'ceive' the outer ends" of the headed-studs 22 previously described. "Riveted- 'or otherwise attached to the plate5il as 'at'521isa'plate 53 of non-conductive material such as hard fiber.

Like the plate 50 I the :plate .53 is also provided *With key-hole slots 56 which align with the key- "hole slots 5| previouslydescribed andattached to' the plate '53 adjacent eachcornei, and insulated fromthplate' 50 is a 'contact'stud; 55' I which when .the .device isass'emblbdrbears upon its respective central ccmtactfiof a group .of cells IS in the tube over-which thestud is located. A

a spring clip'55 has ele'actri'cal-=contact witheach '-*-stud '55 and engaged beneath two iof thesezclipsare the termini of the lllslllatdfCOlldllCtOls 58 opposite those corin'ectedlto thesprin'gs fi'i'. En-

. gaged beneath thethi'rd CIip' 55 is the-terminal 'ofthe insulated conductor :3'ls' opposite that which ii gagementof the shaftM and disc with-theicas- 0 ing 24" and". wall '26 -"itis 'obviousthat theispring ;:'A3=:is*grounded,xandvsince thei'spring :45 is also grounded to the' casing" through :theme'diumof the; base plate I! it is obvious that when the-con-f tact spring .43 is moved;into"engagement with onejof'the arms 33' electrical" energy will'flow -.throughthe.lamp 33; thusilluminating same.

1 .In' order towrender theientire' unit gas-tight,

1 a suitable gasket 51 is seated onthe head "IS-and."

.'..a hood' designated generally 58 is seated on the gasket. -The;hood.-58 comprises a shell 59 which 1 .conformsto-the shape'of 'the hea'd' l9 iand is pro- .vided in its front wall .with :a' window "opening 560 which; alignsi jaxia-lly "with the longitudinal? that the plates'50 and53are' provided with cenaxis of the device about which the tubes I5 are symmetrically disposed. A cover glass 6| closes the window and is held in place by engagement of the periphery of a suitable reflector 62 preferably of parabolic form. This reflector is held in proper position within the hood 58 through the medium of uniformly spaced clips 63 and formed in the reflector in axial alignment with the cover glass 6] is an opening through which the lamp bu1b""33 projects. It will be understoodnf course,

tral openings 64 to accommodate the lamp bulb *33 and permit its longitudinal adjustment along the longitudinal axis of the device to enable it to be focused with relation to the reflector 62.

I Carried by the-hood 58 and projecting from the edgethereof which seats against the gasket 51 on of the head 19." The dr ;ice1ls"l6are then introduced into the tubes l5 in the samem'anner are externally screw-threaded studs 64 which are adaptedto be received in the opening 23, to project therethrough and threaded on the studs are wing nuts65 by means of which the: hood is detachably connected with" the head.

In use, it will be understood that the hood '58 Y may be removed from the head. 19 byremoving as filling an ordinary 'flashlight: whereupon the plate '49 is replaced 'sothat'theestuds '55 bear upon the exposed ends of the dry rcells ilfi. The ends of the conductors 49 are then"introduced beneath tWo'o'f-the springs '56and therend of'the conductor 3 I. is cintrbduced beneath thei third spring clip 56. In this condition, "'uponirotating the thumb-wheel 44 a. flow of 'electricri'current may beestablished through the lamp33. The

. hood 58 -isthen replaced :by projecting the threaded studs 64 through the. openings-23 of the head 19, andiupon tighteningsthewingrnuts 65 on their respective studsit will-.be obvious. that the hood will firmly .be*clamped againstthe gasket 57, thus forming a gas-tight jointwitl'i the head.

By removing the hood'and turningcthe socket 30 within the 'threadedwbushing .29iit is obvious that the positionof the-lamp bulb 33=-maybe adjusted properly to :focus 'Ithe: bulb' in the. :re-

' flector 62 so as to produce theidesi're'dz'type of beam.

From the foregoi-ng;it' will be'obvious that-there is provided a flashlight bfiun'usualpower and by reason of its gas-tight "construction, iti'may be used under all conditions. Due to the symmetrical disposition of wthe tubess containing the dry cells about 'thez'longitudirial axisrof. the :entire unit, and relatively wide spacing frommne another it is obvious that noxspecial carrying arrangement may bei required asf' each' tube will serve as a handle and the device may be easily grasped and manipulated without requiring any special attention or-orientation otherf than to direct the beamfiupon'the area'to be illuminated.

- to without departing. from the spirit and scope of the: invention as claimed.

This isa continuationinparvofi my-co-pending application, Serial No. 587,852, filed April 12, 1945, which is now abandoned.

I claim:

1. A flashlight which includes a head substantially in the form of an equilateral triangle, said head having a relatively large circular opening adjacent each apex, a tube having one end sealed in each opening, a base substantially in the form of an equilateral triangle fixed to and sealing the ends of the tubes opposite the head, a hood detachably connected to the head, a gasket seated on the head and forming a gas-tight junction with the head, a window in the hood, electrical illuminating means in the hood behind the window, means housed within the tubes to supply electrical energy to the illuminating means and a control switch carried by the head and operable from between the tubes to establish the flow of energy from the energy supply means to the illuminating means.

2. In a flashlight, a group of spaced parallel tubes arranged symmetrically around a longitudinal axis, a base joining and closing said tubes at one end of the group, a head joining the tubes at the opposite end of the group, a hood detachably mounted on the head, a window in the hood in alignment with the axis about which the tubes are grouped, a reflector carried by the hood behind the window, an incandescent electric lamp mounted in the head for adjustment along the longitudinal axis, said lamp projecting into the reflector, power supplying cells within the tubes for supplying energy to the lamp and a switch carried by the head in axial alignment with the lamp selectively to energize or de-energize the lamp.

3. In a flashlight, a group of spaced parallel tubes arranged symmetrically around a longitudinal axis, a base joining and closing said tubes at one end of the group, a head joining the tubes at the opposite end of the group, a hood detachably mounted on the head, a window in the hood in alignment with the axis about which the tubes are grouped, a socket carried by the head in axial alignment with the window, a nonconducting bushing in the socket, a lamp socket mounted for longitudinal adjustment in the bushing, a group of dry cells in each tube, a lamp in the lamp socket behind the Window and means operable axially through the socket carried by the head for establishing the flow of electrical energy from the dry cells through the lamp.

4. In a flashlight, a group of spaced parallel tubes arranged symmetrically around a longitudinal axis, a base joining and closing said tubes at one end of the group, a head joining the tubes at the opposite end of the group, a hood detachably mounted on the head, a window in the hood in alignment with the axis about which the tubes are grouped, a socket carried by the head in axial alignment with the window, a nonconducting bushing in the socket, a lamp socket mounted for longitudinal adjustment in the bushing, a group of dry cells in each tube, a lamp in the lamp socket behind the Window and means operable axially through the socket carried by the head for establishing the flow of electrical energy from the dry cells through the lamp, and a reflector carried by the hood behind the window 1 and surrounding the lamp.

MARVIN E. MONTGOMERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

